90s Trends Reemerge: The Wild Children’s Summer
Low-rise jeans and Abercrombie & Fitch aren’t the only trends from the 90s making their way back into our lives. A nostalgic wave has led parents to forgo structured day camps and enrichment programs in favor of what’s being dubbed the “Wild Children’s Summer,” reminiscent of the era back when Bill Clinton was in office.
Some parents envision a season where their kids rollerblade through the neighborhood and spend leisurely hours on the couch before diving into screen time. Yet others see this carefree approach as unrealistic, especially when streets seem more dangerous, digital distractions are so addictive, and many families now have two parents working full-time.
Eric Katzman, a 46-year-old public relations expert from Brooklyn, reminisces fondly about his own childhood summers. “We walked around, hit the candy store, and knew we had to be home eventually,” he recalls, trying to recapture a bit of that spirit for his kids.
This summer marks the first time he’s letting his children, aged 12 and 9, roam freely on their bikes.
Kylie Kelse, who recently discussed the joys of unstructured childhood summers on her popular podcast, “Not Gonna Lie,” expressed her enthusiasm. “I love the idea of giving my kids freedom,” she says, mentioning how she allows them to explore the backyard. “If one digs up a rock, that’s fine by me!”
Kaitlyn Murray, a 43-year-old mom from Westchester and also a content creator, shares this sentiment. She hasn’t enrolled her two kids, ages 9 and 11, in camps. Instead, she limits technology at home, banning YouTube, video games, and tablets.
“They could theoretically watch regular TV,” she noted, “but it doesn’t seem to hold much interest for them.”
However, not everyone is on board with the unstructured summer idea. Jessica Daushen and her husband began planning out their children’s summer activities back in the fall. Their agenda includes photography workshops, science schools, farm camps, and STEM tutorials.
“If my kids are left to their own devices, they’ll likely just end up gaming all summer,” said Daushen, who works for the Department of Education. “The allure of their phones is tough to resist.”
Meanwhile, Upper West Side parents Rebecca and Stephen, who have kids aged 5 and 7, believe that the urban environment of Manhattan makes a free-range summer quite challenging. “It’s tough to let them run around outside,” Rebecca admits, highlighting that the heat of summer often drives kids indoors in front of screens.
Another family, wishing to remain anonymous, will spend a month in Europe enrolled in a structured international language school, which they feel is a more balanced approach to summer.
Psychologist Dr. Anna Levy Warren understands the appeal of providing children with a tech-free, fun-filled summer but advocates for a balanced approach. “It’s critical for kids to have opportunities to be creative, socialize, and play,” she explained.
However, she acknowledges that today’s world is vastly different from the 90s, with many parents feeling anxious about giving their children more independence, often influenced by dire portrayals on social media.
Levy Warren emphasized that children don’t necessarily need their phones at the playground, but breaking that habit can be tough, as many parents have become reliant on constant communication.
Murray remains optimistic about the unstructured summer her children are set to have. “This is the summer when they start to understand things on their own,” she reflected.
